3? Account of the Lift tf PelUtier. 



Tjbfervations on the dephlogifticated or oxygenated muriatic acid, relative to tlie"abforptIon 

 of oxygene; on the formation of ethers, particularly the muriatic and the acetous; and feve- 

 ral memoirs on the operation of phofphorus made in the large way, its converfion into 

 phofphoric acid, and its combination with fulphur and moft metallic fubftances. 



It was by his operations on that moft aftonifliing produdlion of chemiftry, phofphorus, 

 that he burned himfelf fo dangeroufly as nearly to have loft his life. After the cure of his 

 wound, which confined him to his bed for fix months, he immediately began the analyfisof 

 the various plumbagos of France, England, Germany, Spain, and America, and found 

 means to give novelty and interefl to his work even after the publication of Scheele on the 

 fame objedl. The analyfis of the carbonate of barytes led him to make experiments on ani- 

 mals, which prove that this earth is a true poifon, whether it be adminiftered in the form 

 of the native carbonate of barytes, or whether it be taken from the decompofition of the 

 fulphate, even though again combined with another acid. 



Chemifts have given the name of Strontian to a newly-difcovered earth, from the name 

 of the place where it was firft found. Pelletier analyfed it, and difcovered it in the ful- 

 phate of barytes. He likewife analyfed the verditer of England, of which painters and 

 paper-hangers make fo much ufe. He difcovered a procefs for preparing it in the large 

 way, by treating with lime the precipitate obtained from the decompofition of nitrate of 

 copper by lime. By his procefs, verditer is afforded equal in beauty to that which comes 

 from England. He was likewife one of the firft chemifts who fliowed the poflibility of 

 refining bell metal, and feparating the tin. His firft experiments were made at Paris; 

 after which he repaired to the foundry at Romilly to verify them in the large way. The 

 following year he was received a member of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, and fhortly 

 afterwards went to La Fere, with our colleague Borda and General Daboville, to aflift in 

 experiments upon a new gunpowder. Being obliged, in order to render his experiments 

 tnore decifive, to pafs great part of the day in the open air during a cold and humid feafon, 

 his health, which was naturally delicate, became confiderably impaired. He began to re- 

 cover his health, when he again became the vidlim of his zeal for the fcience he fo fuc- 

 cefsfully cultivated. He had nearly perifticd by refpiring the oxygenated muriatic acid 

 gas. A violent attack of convulfive afthma, which returned during feveral days, was the 

 firft confequence of this unhappy accident. The diforder then feemed to abate, but it was 

 incurable. The afliftance of art was infu/Ecient to fave him, and he died of a pulmonary 

 confumprion in the flower of his age. 



Such was the man whofc premature lofs we now lament. His attachment for the 

 fcience to which he had devoted himfelf, remained during the whole of his exiftcnce, and 

 in the laft moments of his life it formed an interefting objeft of his converfation. He 

 poflefled that aftivity of mind fo neceflary to the refearch of truths which are inacceflible 

 to men of cold and languid fentiments. As a man of fcience, his reputation is bright and 

 unblemiftied. As a citizen, his private virtues, his probity and good conduct will long 

 continue objcfts of regret. 



XII. ExtraBi 



